Apparatus for renewing filaments in incandescent lamps



Sept. 17, 1929. c. TOURNE 1,723,813

APPARATUS FOR RENEWING FILAMENTS IN INCAHDESCENT LAMPS Filed June 8,192'! 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 E 4 l0] I f /02 ATTNKNEYS Sept. 17, 1929- c.TOURNE 1,728,813

APPARATUS FOR RENEWING FILAMENTS IN INCANDESCENT LAMPS Filed June 8,1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 An /ways Sept. 17, 1929- c. TOURNE 1,723,813

APPARATUS FOR RENEWING FILAMENTS IN INCANDESCENT LAMPS Filed June 8,1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 17, 1929 PATENT OFFICE CHARLESTOUR-NE, F PARIS, FRANCE APPARATUS FOR RENEWING FILAMENTS ININCANDESCENT LAMPS Application filed June 8, 1927, Serial No. 197,358,and in France-November 10, 1926.

This invention relates to an apparatus designed for ellecting filamentrenewal in electric lamps provided with spare filaments and moreparticularly adapted to the lamps such as are disclosed in my copendingapplication Serial No. 197,359. filed June 8. 1927.

In this type of renewable lamp, the filament (or each of the filaments)of the lamp are stretched between two supports and are prolonged beyondone of their points of support on a coil. One of the supports is movableand mounted on another support operated by a bar of soft iron placed onthe interior of the lamp and susceptible to being rotated under theinfluence of a rotating magnetic field or a rotating electro-magnet.

In the case where a bar of soft iron is oper ated by an electro-magnet,the magnet or the lamp (according to whether the lamp moves inside themagnet or the magnet moves outside the lamp) can be operatedmechanically or electrically by hand and either directly or at adistance by the medium of a suitable transmission of some sort. But inevery case whatever the arrangement may be it is indispensible tocombine the device operating the electro-magnet with a circuit breakerwhich has for an object to interrupt the flow of current to the lampduring the renewing period in order to avoid a short circuit resultingfrom the displacement of the movable support. It is more advantageousto'open and break the circuit to the elcctro-magnet than to the lamp insuch a manner that during renewing the breaking of the circuit to thelamp establishes the circuit to the magnet and that when the re newinghas become terminated the breaking of the circuit to the magnetestablishes the circuit to the lamp.

\Vhen a motor is used for rotating the electro-magnet it may be put inrotation by means of an interrupter and provided with a device foropening the circu t at the end of its run in combination with means forassuring the return of the soft iron bar to its initial position. Thesemeans may comprise a current reversing device which operates the motorin opposite directions when the soft iron bar has carried the supportsof the lamp into contact with the new filament elements incoinislikewise entirely automatic, in the sense that the lamp can beconnected in circuit which is arranged to automatically start a motorwhich rotates the electro-magnet as soon as the current to the lamp hasceased. This inotor is provided with a device for automaticallyreversing the direction of rotation at the end of a certain number ofrevolutions in such a manner as to cause the bar to turn in the reversedirection and bring the parts of the movable supports to their initialposition at the same time drawing the filaments across the fixedsupports. The current to the motor is interrupted when this takes place.Means are further provided for automatically restarting the motor andhence the renewing mechanism in case the operation should fail or thenew filament become broken during the renewing operation.

The annexed drawing illustrates, by way of example, several embodimentsof my invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic assembly of a lamp provided with my renewingdevice controlled by hand;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a device which is operated from a distance;

Fig. 3 is a diagram of a. renewing device L provided with automaticcontrol:

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a detail in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section along the line 15-43 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 shows a device applied to an incandescent lamp having multiplefilaments.

Referring to the drawing. and particularly Fig. 1. (ill rc 'irescnts thebody of the lamp and l the filament stretched between the supports 2 and3 the end being wound on a coil 15.

ing a socket 103. A second socket 103 is journaled in a tubular bearing104 disposed between the poles of an electro-magnet 20 Which is mountedon a carriage 105 which slides in a guideway 106. The lamp is supportedbetween the sockets 103 and 103'. Turning the crank 100 turns the lampbetween the poles of the magnet 20 after having previously adjusted thecarriage thereof. The bar 14 remains in a fixed position in the magneticfield of the magnet 20 and becomes displaced longitudinally by theaction of the threaded rod 8 which turns therein. The bar 14 carrieswith. it the support 2 and its supporting rod. .The support 2 is movedto a position adjacent the support 3 which ongages and Holds thefilament. The crank handle 100 is then turned in the opposite directionand the bar 14 and support 2 are again moved to the position shown inFig. 1 with the renewed filament in place.

During the renewing operation, interruption of the current" to the lampis accomplished by means of a double-pole switch 68 which permits eitherthe circuit to the lamps 60 to be broken and that to the magnet 20closed or after renewal the breaking of the circuit to the magnet andthe establishment of the circuit to the lamp again. If desired the crank100 might be arranged to operate an interrupter in such a manner thatthe circuit would be automatically broken to the lamp during therenewing period and become reestablished once the operation iscompleted.

Referring to Fig. 2, the magnet 20 is suspended on rollers 61 by meansof a ring 62 which turns with the rollers. The ring 62 is attached tothe body 63 of the electro-magnet at the upper end of which is mounted abeveled gear 64 and two contact rings 65, 66 for supplying current tothe winding of the magnet. A pinion 65 meshes with the gear 64 and isattached to a flexible coupling 66" which is attached to a transmissiongear contained in a box 67, said gear being op erated by means of acrank 68. In this embodiment when the crank 68 is turned the gears inbox 67 turn the coupling 66*, pinion 65 and gear 64. This turns theelectroma'gnet 20 which moves the soft iron bar 14 and'carries it to oneextremity of its course for accomplishing the renewal operation.Operation of the bar in the opposite direction is obviously accomplishedby turning the crank 68 in the reverse direction.

The mechanism in this embodiment is, as in Fig. 1, combined with aswitch 68 which functions in precisely the same manner as previouslydescribed. Here also the crank 68 might be utilized for controlling the.

switch 68 as previously described.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 5, 20 represents the electro-magnet which is fedby two rings 65 and 66. A motor 69 turns the magnet 20 and a scr w 70 onwhich a travelling nut 71 mounted for controlling the contacts 72, 73and 74. Said nut can be displaced from the position shown to that of 71in dotted lines. An electroni'agnet 75 is placed in series with the lamp6O furnished with a renewing device conforming to the invention.Opposite the magnet 75 is placed a second weaker electro-magnet 76.Between these two magnets is mounted a flexible contact spring 77 whichcontrols all the operations of the device. An clectromagnet 78 acts onthe blade 79 to control the contacts 80, 81 and 82 which are coupledtogether mechanically by means of an insulated bar 83 and biased awayfrom the magnet 78 by means of a spring 84. The reversing contacts 82are designed to reverse the rotation of motor 69.

The operation of the device ust described is as follows:

When the lamp is extinguished the various contacts occupy the positionsshown in Fig. 3, to wit, contact 85 closed, contact 86 open, contact 72closed, contact 73 open, con tact 74 open, contact open, contact 81closed and the reversing switch 82 in a position to send current inthe.direction of the arrow F During normal operation of the lamp,current flows from the line 87 through a circuit including contacts 81,contacts 72, lamp 60 and electromagnet- 75. Said magnet attracts theblade 77 and opens the contacts which places the magnet 76 out ofcircuit.

If the circuit in line 87 be opened the blade 77 returns to its initialposition without anything happening. If the filament in lamp 60 shouldbreak, however, the following operations take place:

1. The current no longer passes through 75 and the blade 77 closes thecontacts 85;

2. The current from line 87 passes through the electromagnet 76 whichattracts the blade 77 and closes the contacts 86;

3. The current divides at 88, part feeding the magnet 20 and partfeeding the motor 69 which is set in rotation;

4. The motor 69 turns the electro-magnet 20 which causes the bar 70 toalso turn thereby displacing the nut 71 and causing contacts 73 toclose. The purpose of these contacts will he explained later on;

\ 5. The nut 71 continues to move and opens contacts 72. This opens themain circuit and prevents the line from being short-circuited when thesupports 2 and 3 come in contact with each other;

6. \Vhen the nut 71 reaches the end of its course it closes the contacts74. The current can now pass through contacts 73 and 74- andelcctro-magnet 78;

7. The electro-magnet 78 attracts the blade 79' closing contacts 80,opening contacts 81 and moving switch 82 to a reverse position.

The contact being in parallel with the contact 74 establishes a holdingcircuit for the magnet 78 so that when contacts H are subsequentlyallowed to open said magnet remains energized;

6. The motor is now turned in the opposite direction. the filaments ofthe lamp (50 are replaced by the action of supports 2 and I the nut i'lreturns to its initial position and the contacts 74 openwithoutati'eeting the magnet 78; t

9. The nut 71 recloses the cont acts 7:3. The lamp, however. is not yetrcenergized since the contact 81 in the main circuit was opened by theseventh operation and has not yet been reclosed;

1t). \Vhen the nut 71 arrives at the end of its course the contacts 73are opened. This dcenergizes the electromagnet To. opens the contact 30.recloses the contacts 81 and allows the reversing switch 82 to return toits initial position under the action of spring 84;

11. The closing of contacts 81 again energizes the lamp, current againflows through the magnet 75 which is stronger than magnet 76 and blade77 becomes attracted by magnet 75 which restores all parts to theposition shown in Fig. 3 ready for another renewing operation should thefilament again become broken or in case the renewing device has notfunctioned properly.

In Figs. 4 and 5 are shown the details of the elements of the diagramshown in Fig. 3. The parts all bear consistent numbering and need littlefurther explanation in addition to what has already been given. Themotor (59 is geared to the screw 7t) by means of a pinion 89, a gear ona shaft 91. a worm 92 and a worm wheel 93. The magnet :20 is operated bythe same motor by mounting the pinion 65", which meshes with beveledgear (34. directly on the shaft 91. The nut 71 is prevented from turningby means of a guide rod 94 on which it slides said rod being supportedby supports and 96. Brushes 9T carry the current to the contact ringsti?) and (in.

Fig, 6 shows my device applied to a lamp of current type. Severalfilaments 1. 1", 1. 1 are disposed on the interior of the lamp andsupported by gripping memb rs 2. 3". 2*. 3", 2, 3, 2, 3. It will benoticed however. that in this embodiment the gripping elements 3, 3, 3",3 are mounted on a common insulating plate 6 and the members 2", 2. 2 2.on a common insulating plate 4*. Spare filament is Wound on each of thebobbins i5". 15, 15*, 15. The plate 6 is fixed and is centered in thelamp by means of the blades -13. It is connected by means of posts ll toan upper plate 45 centered in the lamp by m ans of arms 40, 46 which arefixed at 47 to the base of the lamp. The plate 4 is provided with a nutwhich is screwed on a central rod 49, journalled at its extremity in across piece 50 supported by small pillars 51 to the plate 6", the saidcolumns or pillars passing loosely through the plate 4 and preventing itfrom turning on its axis. lod 4-9 is mounted to turn easily in the plateti above which it extends, the extremity ol said rod being journalled inthe plate 45. The bar of soft iron which operates the renewing deviceturns on a shaft 52 which is rigidly fixed to a pinion 53 which mesheswith a toothed wheel 54 mounted on a shaft 55. which carries a secondpinion 56 meshing with a gear 57 keyed to the rod 49.

'lhe filaments 1. 1", 1, 1 are placed either in series or parallel withsuitable connections for the members 3", 3. 3 Il In case the filamentsare odd in number or in parallel the current is brought in directly fromone terminal of the lamp to member 23" by an insu lated connection 58,the member 2 is connect: ed to the other terminal of the lamp throughnut -18. rod -19. plate 45 and a connection 59. When the number offilaments is an even number or when they are connected in series thecurrent returns through one of the upper gripping members directlyconnected to the lamp terminal.

The operation of this embodiment is as follows:

The parts normally occupy the parts shown in the tigurc. \Vhen afilament burns out and it is desired to replace it the bar It is rotatedby apy appropriate means. This rotation of the bar is transmitted to bar49 through pinion 53. gear 54, pinion 5G and gear 5'.'. Rotation of saidrod causes the plate 4 to rise on the threaded portion thereof. Thegripping members meet and penetrate each other and renew the filamentsas before when the bar 14 is rotated in the opposite direction forrestoring all the parts to their initial posit-ion.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In an apparatus of the type described. anelectric lamp having a plurality of renewable tilaments and a devicetherein including a soft iron bar for automatically replacing a filamentwhen it fails by relative rotation of the lamp and bar. in combinationwith electro-mechanical means exterior of said lamp for rotating saidbar to etlect the operation of said renewing device. an energizingcircuit for said filaments. an energizing circuit for saidelectro-mechanical means and means for breaking the circuit to said lampand establishing the circuit to said electromechanical means during therenewal operation.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the breaking of thecircuit to the lamp by said last mentioned means establishes the circuitto said electromechanical means said circuit-breaking means beingoperated by said electro-mechanicai means.

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3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the electro-mechanicalmeans is provided with a flexible coupling permitting the device to beactuated from a distance.

4. In an apparatus of the type described.

an electric lamp having a plurality of renewable filaments and a devicetherein includin a soft iron bar for automatically replacing a filamentwhen it fails by relative rotation of the lamp and bar in combinationwith a rotatable electron'iagnet surrounding said lamp and said bar, amotor for driving said electro-magnet. means for supplying current tosaid motor when the filament in said lamp fails, means for reversing thecurrent to said motor and hence its direction of rotation when said barhas been turned through a predeterminednumber of revolutions, means forinterrupting the current to said motor when said bar has been restoredto its initial position and means for energizing said electro-magnetwhen said motor is energized.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which the means for reversingthe current through the motor operates a means for con trolling thecurrent through said lamp and said electro-magnet.

6. In an apparatus of the type described, an electric lamp having aplurality of renewable filaments and a device therein including a softiron bar for automatically replacing a filament when it fails byrelative rotation of the lamp and bar in combination with a rotatableelcctro-magnet surrounding said lamp and said bar, an energizing circuitfor said lamp, an energizing circuit for said electro-magnct. a motorfor turning said electro-magnet, a circuit for said motor, means forreversing the current to said motor and hence its direction of rotationwhen said bar has been turned through a predetermined number ofrevolutions, means for interrupt:- ing the current to said motor whensaid bar has been restored to its initial position and means controlledby said current reversing means for breaking the circuit to said lampand establishing the circuit to said electromagnet during said renewaloperation and for reestablishing the circuit to said lamp and breakingthe circuit to said electro-magnet when said renewal operation hasterminated.

7. In an apparatus of the type described, an electric lamp having aplurality of renewable filaments and a device therein fo automaticallyreplacing a filament when it fails, clectro-magnetic means for operatingsaid device comprising, a rotatable electro-magnet surrounding said lampand said device, a motor for turning said magnet, a screw driven by saidmotor. a travelling nut on said screw, a. circuit for said lamp, a pairof contacts in series with said lamp adapted to be operated by said nut,a second pair of contacts operated by said nut, said tirst contactsbeing adapted to be closed when said second contacts are opened and viceversa, a third pair of contacts normally open and adapted to be closedby said nut when moved away from said first and second contacts, anclectro magnet in series with said lamp, :1 second weaker magnetopposing said first magnet, a spring contact mounted between saidmagnets, a fourth contact conncctcd in series with said second magnet, atifth contact connected in series with said rotary clectro-nuignet andsaid motor, a fourth magnet in series with said third contact and inparallel with said motor, a sixth contact in series with said secondcontact and said fourth magnet and operated by the latter, a seventhcontact mechanically connected to said sixth contact but insulatedtherefrom, a reversing switch for said motor mechanically connected tosaid sixth and seventh contacts and a pring for opposing the attractionof said reversing switch and said sixth and seventh contacts by saidfourth magnet for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

CHARLES TO URNF.

